George J. Guenther, SJ

A man who found that life’s challenges could be met by trusting God’s love, Fr. George J. Guenther, SJ, 91, died March 6 at the St. Camillus Jesuit Community in Wauwatosa, Wis.

Born March 3, 1914, George entered the Society out of Marquette University High School in 1932 and was ordained 13 years later. His grandmother urged him to be a priest to honor his mother who died the week after his birth.

After two forays into teaching, George returned to parish ministry at the Gesu in Milwaukee (1956-62) and then at SS Peter and Paul in Mankato, Minn. (1962-67). At 53, he joined the Army and served in Germany as chaplain. Back to Milwaukee in 1971, he did pastoral work at area parishes, nursing homes, and later Marquette High. At 66 he trained and became a hospital chaplain.

Misdiagnosed as having cancer in 1985, he gave away his belongings in preparation for death. Embarrassed but healthy, he eventually resumed sacramental ministry. His eyesight failed after moving to Camillus in 1992, but he continued a ministry of prayer while awaiting God’s promise of heaven to those who persevere.

Walter H. Halloran, SJ

Always one to approach life with enthusiasm and confidence, Fr. Walter H. Halloran, SJ, 83, died March 1 at the St. Camillus Jesuit Community in Wauwatosa, Wis. He was a Jesuit for 63 years and a priest for 50 years.

Born Sept. 21, 1921 in Jackson, Minn., Walt graduated from Campion High in 1939, where he excelled both academically and athletically. He attended college until 1941 when he joined the Society of Jesus at Florissant in August.

When Walt was finishing first studies, Fr. William Bowdern, SJ, who was at Campion when Walt was there, asked him to be present during an exorcism that was later popularized in the movie The Exorcist.

Walt enjoyed a broadly diverse apostolic career. At different times he taught both high school and college. At 48, he was the oldest Army paratrooper/chaplain in the Vietnam War in which he earned two Bronze Stars. Later he was a campus minister and alumni director at Saint Louis University; pastor; Creighton University admissions officer; and finally, a parish priest in the Winona and San Diego dioceses before finally moving to St. Camillus in 2003.

Lawrence D. Kelly, SJ

A dedicated high school geometry teacher, Fr. Lawrence D. Kelly, SJ, died Feb. 11 at the St. Camillus Care Center in Wauwatosa, Wis. He was 94.

Born Aug. 3, 1910 in Harper’s Ferry, Iowa, he attended Loras College in Dubuque before entering the Society in 1933 in Florissant, Mo. He graduated from Saint Louis University (1938), taught at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City (1940-43), and studied theology at St. Marys, Kan.

Ordained in June 1946, Larry was assigned to Marquette University High School in Milwaukee (1948) and remained there until 1993. Over 40-plus years he had a profound effect on many students, many of whom recalled his thoughtfulness and attentiveness long after graduation. One former student even donated funds for Marquette High to build a computer lab named after Larry, an irony since he never owned a computer.

In 2002, Larry’s health was failing and he moved to St. Camillus. When he could no longer walk or read he gave up his need to be busy and waited quietly to join the Lord.

Richard D. McGloin, SJ

A beloved, longtime residence hall advisor, Fr. Richard D. McGloin, SJ died March 11 at Creighton University in Omaha in the dorm room he had lived in since the mid 1960s. He was 90.

Born June 22, 1914 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, he entered the Society of Jesus in 1932 and earned a master’s in Latin/Greek during his formation. He taught Latin as a regent at Marquette University High School (1939-42), studied theology at St. Marys, Kan. and was ordained in June 1945. He was one of the first live-in residence hall advisors at Marquette University – then served as Marquette High’s rector/ president (1950-55) before moving to Creighton.

Fr. Mac, as he was known, was available 24/7 to help students with their personal, professional, and, sometimes, financial concerns. In 1998, Creighton’s newest dormitory was named for Mac after alumni gathered over $1 million to establish a scholarship fund in his name.

A few days before his death, his residence hall room was transformed into a hospice. From morning to evening, friends and former students streamed by to say goodbye and receive a final blessing.

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